Injectable Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications: A Review of the Current Clinical Landscape

Abstract

Injectable hydrogels are gaining popularity due to their diverse biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, dermal fillers, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine. An ideal injectable hydrogel should have suitable physicochemical properties for in situ injection into the body, be non-toxic and biocompatible, and should not initiate any adverse reactions. Also, the injectable hydrogel should be porous and made of highly interconnected networks to facilitate the movement of nutrients for better integration into the surrounding tissues. Injectable hydrogels offer unique advantages such as minimally invasive delivery and targeted administration, making them promising candidates for various medical interventions. The preparation of injectable hydrogels involves physical or chemical crosslinking methods, and various stimuli-responsive injectable hydrogels are available for clinical use. Optimising their composition, distribution, and dosing regimens is key to enhancing patient outcomes and expanding the clinical utility of injectable hydrogels shortly.  There are various injectable hydrogel products in the market, and a few of them are in different phases of clinical trials for treating several diseases and conditions. Examples of commonly used injectable hydrogels available in the market include hyaluronic acid, calcium phosphate, collagen, fibrin, and thermoresponsive hydrogels. Furthermore, ongoing clinical trials investigating novel injectable hydrogels such as BioSentry tract sealant system, PROMGEL-OA, HYADD, PAAG-OA, NOLTREX, AQUAMID, GELSTIX, and REACT are discussed in this review, providing valuable insights into the landscape of injectable hydrogel research and development. In this review, we primarily focus on injectable hydrogels under various stages of clinical trials for future addition to the clinical setting, and some of the products approved for clinical use. It also examines the current clinical landscape of injectable hydrogels for biomedical applications, highlighting their versatility in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and wound healing. While approved products promise conditions like osteoarthritis, ongoing clinical trials underscore the need for further research to assess safety, efficacy, and long-term outcomes, suggesting significant potential for transformative advancements in healthcare.